What Does Libertarian Party Believe?

Political commentator P.J. O'Rourke once said "Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys." That is pretty much how Libertarians feel. Government at all levels has its important, valid, and limited purpose. Too often we allow government to forget about the limited part. We expect Federal, Indiana, and Johnson County governments to solve all our problems. We frequently fail to take responsibility for our lives and those around us.

Libertarians believe that the Declaration of Independence got it right. "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

Personal responsibility is the one of the guiding principles of the Libertarian Party. We believe that as an adult, you can pretty well take care of yourself. You can decide to wear your seatbelt or not, to smoke or not, you are qualified to make your own health care decisions and to raise your children in the proper manner. You can live your live as you choose so long as you do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others. If you harm another person government has the right to step in and protect that person's freedom.

Property rights are important to Libertarians. We believe in your right to control you own property. You can turn your farm in a housing development if you so choose. Or you can keep it as it is. The government does not have the right to use eminent domain to take your property and give it to another private enterprise; even it is for "the public good". You have the right to do with your property as you choose, so long as you act responsibly towards others.

We firmly believe the First and Second Amendments to the Constitution is the cornerstone of a free society. Liberty and a free society cannot exist in an environment where speech is restricted either by the government or political correctness, and citizens are stripped of their ability to defend themselves.

In addition we believe in free, open, and competitive elections. For too long only the voice of one party has been heard in Johnson County and many other areas of our state. No government body should be under the sole control of one political party, whether it be Democrat, Republican, or Libertarian. Freedom, Liberty and choice cannot exist in a one party system.